Women's health Flashcards
(195 cards)
Ectopic pregnancy
RF = Previous ectopic / PID / Surgery to fallopian tubes / Coils / Old age / Smoking
Presentation - typically 6-8 weeks gestation with missed period - constant lower abdo pain (RIF / LIF), Vaginal bleeding, abdominal tenderness +/- pain radiation to the L shoulder
O/E bimanual palpation reveals cervical motion tenderness
!TIP - always ask about anemia symptoms e.g dizziness, syncope etc
Investigation
* * Pregnancy test - Women may have a +ve pregnancy test. Normally HCG doubles every 48hrs so a rise <63% after 48 hours indicates an ectopic (a fall of >50% indicates miscarriage)
* Gold standard =** transvaginal ultrasound**
USS will show a ‘blob/bagel’ sign which does not move with the ovaries- gestational sac containing a yolksac or fetal pole in the fallopian tube
Management of Ectopic pregnancy
- Expectant management - if <35mm unruptured ectopic with no visible heartbeat, no significant pain and HCG <1500
- Medical management (Methotrexate IM) - if HCG < 5000 & same as above
- Surgical management (Salpingectomy 1st line, Salpingotomy if risk of infertility)- if pain, adnexal mass >35mm, Visible heartbeat or HCG >5000
!NOTE - rhesus -ve women having surgical removal need Anti-D prophylaxis
Miscarriage
Sx = Painless vaginal bleeding
Types;
* Threatened = vaginal bleeding with closed cervix but alive fetus
* Inevitable = Vaginal bleeding + open cervical os
* Incomplete = Retained products of conception after miscarriage
* Complete = gestational sac present but no embryo
Investigations;
1. 1st line = **Ultrasound **
Features to look for on USS in early pregnancy + indicators of miscarriage
- Mean gestational sac diameter - *should be >25mm - this is when you would expect to see a fetal pole
- Fetal pole + crown rump length - this should be 7mm - this is when you would expect to see a heartbeat
- Fetal heartbeat - Pregnancy is viable when heartbeat is visible
Note - if no fetal pole is seen but sac >25mm then repeat scan in 1 week before confirming miscarriage. Also if crown-rump length >7mm but no heartbeat or crown-rump length <7mm with a heartbeat repeat in 1 week before confirmation.
Management of miscarriage
<6 weeks gestation = expectant management + repeat urine pregnancy test in 7-10 days.
> 6 weeks gestation = refer to EPAU for USS. Options then include;
* Expectant management
* Medical management = misoprostol
* Surgical management = misoprostol + manual/electric vaccuum aspiration
Indications for surgical management of miscarriage
Increased risk of haemorrhage
Late 1st trimester
Previous adverse/traumatic experience (e.g stillbirth)
Evidence of infection
Investigations for recurrent miscarriage
- Antiphospholipid anitbodies
- Heriditary thrombophilias testing
- Pelvic USS
- Genetic testing (on the products of conception & on parents)
1967 Abortion act / 1990 Human Fertilisation + Embryology act
- 24 weeks is the latest gestational age where abortion is legal
- A woman can abort <24 weeks if continuing pregnancy involves greater risk to physical/mental health of the woman or existing children of the family
- A woman can abort at any time in pregnancy if continuing the pregnancy is likely to risk the life of the woman or cause grave physical/mental effects OR the child is at substantial risk of severe handicap
2 registered medical practitioners must sign. Must be carried out by registered practitioner on NHS hospital or premise.
Medical ToP
- Most appropriate earlier in pregnancy. uses a combination of
1. Mifepristone (anti-progestogen) - relaxes cervix
2. Misoprostol (prostaglandin analogue) - taken 2 days later. Stimulates uterine contractions. Every 3 hours until expulsion is achieved.
Surgical ToP
First the patient is given mifepristone + misoprostol,
Then surgical dilation + suction of uterine contents
Or if >15wks = surgical dilation + evacuation of contents using forceps
How long can a pregnancy test remain +ve following ToP
4 weeks
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Diagnosis = Protracted N&V + >5% weight loss or Dehydration or Electrolyte imbalance
Severity = assesed using the PUQE
Management;
* Antiemetics - 1st line is prochlorperazine, then cyclizine/promethazine, then ondansetron, then metaclopramide
* Can try ginger or acupressure on the wrists
Severe cases may need IV antiemetics + Fluids and monitoring of U&Es. If really severe then thiamine supplementation + thromboprophylaxis needed.
When to admit a patient with hyperemesis gravidarum
- Unable to tolerate oral anti-emetics or retain fluids
- > 5% weight loss
- Ketones in urine
- Comorbidities
Complications of Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Wernicke’s encephalopathy
- Mallory-weiss tear
- Central pontine myelinosis
- ATN
- IUGR
Hydadiform mole
= type of tumour which grows like a prengnacy inside the uterus
Sx;
* extreme morning signess
* vaginal bleeding
* Increased enlargement of uterus (bigger than date)
* abnormall high HCG
* thyrotoxicosis - *hcg can act like TSH - bloods show high T3/T4 and low TSH
Investigations;
1. Pelvic USS - shows a ‘snowstorm’ appearance
2. Histology - confirms diagnosis after evacuation.
Management = evacuation + histology + monitoring of hcg until return to normal.
Down’s syndrome combined test results
High B-HCG, Low PAPP-A, Thickened nuchal translucency.
Screening for down’s syndrome >15weeks gestation
Quadruple test
Low AFP, Low Oestriol, High B-HCG, High Inhibin-A.
Low b-HCG, Oestriol & AFP and Normal Inhibin-A
Edward’s syndrome
Neural tube defect - Quadruple test result
High AFP, Low oestriol & b-hcg and normal inhibin
If combined/quadruple testing shows higher chance of Down’s syndrome, what is next?
1st line = NIPT
Gold standard for diagnosis= CVS (9-12wk) or Amniocentesis (15-19wks)
Management of hypothyroidism in pregnancy
increase levothyroxine dose by 30-50%
Management of HTN in pregnancy
Stop: ACEi / ARBs or Thiazide diuretics
Replace with B-blockers, CCBs or Alpha blockers
Pre-eclampsia prophylaxis with 75mg Aspirin OD
Management of epilepsy in pregnancy
5mg Folic acid before conception + during
Should be well controlled on monotherapy prior to conception.
Avoid: Sodium valporation + phenytoin
Safe = Lamotrigine / Carbamazepine / Levetiracem
Management of Rheumatoid arthritis in pregnancy
Methotrexate should be stopped by either parents 6 months prior to conception.
Safe = hydroxychloroquine. Corticosteroids can be duirng flare ups and NSAIDs are safe until week 33.